Care home activities matter: Part 3
Engaging in activities within care homes can offer significant neurobiological benefits for residents.
These activities stimulate various aspects of brain function and contribute positively to overall cognitive health and emotional wellbeing.
Engaging in meaningful activities gives residents a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
This positive reinforcement can lead to improved self-esteem and motivation.
Activities that require planning, decision-making, and problem-solving can enhance executive functions.
These activities activate frontal lobe regions of the brain responsible for these cognitive processes.
Wherever possible engage residents in planning future activities.
A variety of activities that engage multiple senses, such as music therapy, art sessions, or sensory gardens, can enhance sensory processing and integration.
This sensory stimulation supports neural connections and sensory-motor coordination, enhancing participants' cognitive functions and overall physical engagement during activities.
Popular, memory-related activities, such as reminiscence therapy or memory games.
They can help in stimulating memory circuits in the brain, improving recall abilities, and potentially slowing down memory decline.
Conversations matter.
Engage residents in talking about the local town centre, which pubs, restaurants, shops do they recall?
Activities that involve learning new skills or information can promote neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganise and form new neural connections.
This is crucial for maintaining cognitive function and adapting to changes.
Keep life interesting, learn new skills together.
Social engagement, such as group discussions, games, or outings, stimulate areas of the brain associated with social cognition.
This helps in maintaining social skills and emotional regulation.
We all need connection with others from time to time.
Remember that groups do not need to be large for residents to benefit from social engagement.
Participating in enjoyable activities can reduce stress levels.
Lower stress contributes to improved mood and overall mental wellbeing, which is beneficial for brain health.
Some activities can just be fun, on purpose. They don't all have to be meaningful.
Physical activities, even gentle exercises like walking or chair yoga, increase blood flow to the brain.
Improved blood circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients essential for brain function and can support cognitive health.
Regular physical activity has been linked to neuroprotective effects, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
Overall, participating in a variety of stimulating activities supports brain health by maintaining neuronal connections, promoting neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons), and potentially delaying cognitive decline associated with aging.
Is it time you looked at including some different activities in your schedule?
Consider joining the Activity Coordinators Toolbox membership or purchasing one, or more, of the themed Activity Packs available from the shop.
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